Games today:
(Filoil EcoOil Centre)
12 p.m. San Beda vs JRU
3 p.m. Perpetual vs EAC
San Beda believes that it has Jose Rizal University all figured out.
Going into the Red Lions’ noontime clash with the Heavy Bombers in Season 95 National Collegiate Athletic Association basketball tournament, gaining a share of the lead today at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan would depend on one thing.
“Knowing JRU and how tough they are, we have to take care of the ball since JRU is the No. 1 team in terms of turnover points,” said San Beda head coach Yuri Escueta, whose team only committed seven turnovers in its 76-68 win over Letran last Friday.
A victory would put San Beda on top of the leaderboard with a 5-1 card, the same slate being paraded by Saint Benilde and Lyceum.
JRU will be a tough nut to crack as it has been on a tear lately, winning three straight games going into its showdown with San Beda.
With the NCAA management committee giving the Red Lions a win via forfeiture resulting from Mapua’s fielding of an ineligible player, San Beda is currently at second spot in the standings with a 4-1 ledger.
“We have to play smart and take care of the ball,” added Escueta, who will bank heavily on James Kwekuteye and JB Bahio against the Bombers.
Kwekuteye hit 17 points and grabbed 13 rebounds while Bahio backed him up with 16 and 13.
JRU will be led by Joshua Guiab, who had a double-double game of 17 and 10 in the Bombers’ 67-64 overtime win over Mapua last Friday.
In the second game, University of Perpetual Help System Dalta takes on Emilio Aguinaldo College at 3 p.m.